Beauty / Spa | 3 Boys And A Dog

Review: Dr.’s Remedy Nail Polish

August 13, 2011 By Tamera 3 Comments

I have four little girls, so good nail polish is incredibly important to us! I was thrilled to try out Dr.’s Remedy to see what I thought!

About Dr.’s Remedy (from their website)

Dr.’s REMEDY is a line of doctor-inspired cosmetics that is dedicated to using clean, hypo-allergenic ingredients. The birth-child of two New York-based podiatrists, Dr. Adam Cirlincione and Dr. William Spielfogel, Dr.’s REMEDY proves quintessentially-perfect for any person looking to better the condition of her skin and nails.

Their mission is: To provide women with a healthier, safer nail polish alternative. To educate parents on the need for healthier cosmetics for their children. To prove to consumers that they don’t have to sacrifice health for beauty.

Dr.’s REMEDY is the first nail polish to receive the Seal Of Approval of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

Like them on Facebook!

My Thoughts

I got FIVE different colors in the mail and they are ALL awesome! I was just hoping for some pretty polishes that would strengthen my unhealthy nails and I got so much more! They are big bottles! We’re not talking the $1 Wet n Wilds by any means! They are .5 fl oz. They have Tea Tree Oil, Vitamins, and Wheat Protein! They have NO Dibutylphthalate, Toluene, or Formaldehyde! We opened them up and although they still have the nail polish smell, it isn’t strong at all! I was able to paint mine and all four of my girls’ nails and there was no after smell! I was comfortable even painting my baby’s nails, because there weren’t all of those harsh chemicals! I just painted her toenails (while she was sleeping). I still wouldn’t suggest painting baby/toddler’s fingernails, especially if they suck their thumb, but my 2-year-old (resident thumb-sucker) did have her nails painted and the thumb she sucks is now paint-less. So, you can use it as a deterrent to help stop thumb-sucking (because they’ll lose their nail color). The colors are very vibrant! My nails are already feeling stronger and healthier (after only a week)! I LOVE them!

My daughter’s nails, using all of the colors to make flowers.

Buy it!

They are $17 each here.

pf button big Review: Dr.s Remedy Nail Polish

Filed Under: 3 Boys & A Dog General Posts, Beauty / Spa, Eco_Friendly, Fashion / Style, health, Living and Lifestyles, Mind and Body, Review and Giveaways, Reviews, Safety Tagged With: best nail polish, cosmetics, dibutyl phthalate, doctor-inspired, Dr.s Remedy, health, healthy, human anatomy, hypo-allergenic, medicine, nail, nail paints, nail polish, nails, No formaldehyde, pedicure, podiatry, polishing, remedies, remedy, Safe for children, safe for pregnant women, safe nail polish, tea tree, Tea Tree Oil, toiletry, unhealthy nail, Wheat Protein

Barielle Nail Care Review and Giveaway

June 24, 2011 By Ashley

I have always had pretty long nails, but they were never super strong. They would grow out nicely, but then I’d always be faced with painful breaks and splits below the nail bed. Now that I have kids and am constantly playing with plastic toys, snapping in car seat buckles, and opening “pop top” style cans of fruit, my nails have taken a serious beating. I figured I’d just have to live with short nails cut down to the bed.

Barielle has developed a fantastic nail strengthening cream that is everyday nail care to establish and maintain strong, healthy nails. I was a little skeptical, but I figured all I had to lose were broken nails! Here’s a little bit of info from the Barielle website:

Originally created to condition the hooves of million dollar, thoroughbred racehorses, this trusted and legendary formula helps nails grow healthier and stronger while resisting splits, peels and breaks. May be used over nail enamel.

For nearly 3 weeks, I applied Barielle Nail Strengthening Cream to my right hand fingernails. I left my left hand untouched to see if it really worked. I was so surprised to see that my nails really did stand up to the tests of motherhood! Take a look for yourself:

Without Barielle Nail Strengthening Cream

With Barielle Nail Strengthening Cream

Pretty impressive! Barielle says that it takes 3-4 weeks to see a noticeable difference, so I still have farther to go, but this is a convincing trial if you ask me! For best results, you should put it on at night before bed. This was best for me, too, since I wash my hands constantly during the day, so I knew that at night, it had a chance to really work its magic. You can even use it over nail polish! You can purchase a tub of Barielle Nail Strengthening Cream for $17.00 from their website.

I also received one of Barielle’s Shades Nail Color in Jubilant. It’s such a pretty soft pink! Additionally, I received the Ultra Speed Dry Manicure Extender. This is perfect for maintaining your manicure and preventing chips in the polish. Paired with the Nail Strengthening Cream, you’ll have nails of steel .

One lucky 3 Boys and a Dog reader will win a travel tube of Barielle Nail Strengthening Cream!

REQUIRED COMMENT: Head on over to the Barielle website and tell me what you’d love to try!

BONUS #1: Follow @Barielle and @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Barielle and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Put my button on your blog.

#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.

#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on July9, 2011 OPEN TO: US and Canada

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent items by Barielle to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

Filed Under: Beauty / Spa, Giveaways Tagged With: aesthetics, barielle, barielle nail, barielle nail care, body modification, cosmetics, giveaway, healthy nails, human anatomy, manicure, massage, nail, nail bed, nail care, nail enamel, nail polish, nail strengthen, nails, nine inch nails, physiology, review, toiletry

GIVEAWAY: Goddess Garden Natural & Organic Sun Care

June 5, 2011 By Tabitha

The Goddess Garden Story
Founded in 2004 by mom and entrepreneur, Nova Covington, Goddess Garden is a women-owned skincare company based in Boulder, Colorado. In 2009, Goddess Garden launched an organic sunscreen line for the whole family made with 82% certified organic ingredients.

Originally created for Nova’s daughter’s sensitive skin, Goddess Garden Natrual Sunscreens offer long-lasting SPF 30 sun protection from sheer minerals reflecting 97% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. Goddess Natural Sunscreens protect and nourish without any harsh chemicals using only the purest organic ingredients packed with vitamins and antioxidants to hydrate and support healthy skin. Pure enlightened skincare.

My thoughts:

Source Goddess Garden

Ever since having kids of my own I have become more and more aware of the nasty chemicals used in the products we buy for daily use. I started off mostly concerned for what my daughter ate, trying my best to buy organic and stick with the least processed foods I could find. It wasn’t until I had my second child who ended up having really sensitive skin that I started to really think about the creams and detergents I was using on my children’s skin as well.

Over the last few years a friend of mine has been showing me more natural ways to live through homeopathic remedies. Last summer, it was brought to my attention that most sunscreens on the market were loaded with cancer causing chemicals! I was alarmed, and so my hunt began for a more natural sunscreen that didn’t leave white streaks and a sticky film on the skin like some natural sunscreens I had seen my friend use.

Source Goddess Garden

So when I was given the opportunity to try the Goddess Garden kids sunscreen, I was very excited. I was sent a bottle of the Baby Sunscreen, and both a bottle and a spray bottle of the Kids Sunscreen. With all the rain we had been having here in Ontario I had to wait a few days to try it out after receiving it. By the weekend, the sun finally made an appearance for one day so we got to try out the spray bottle and found that this sunscreen goes on very easily and fairly quickly. The only area I seemed to have trouble with was the face but I may not have used enough. As promised it went on sheer, was easy to apply, and it didn’t leave a greasy feeling.

Another positive for this sunscreen is that because it is natural you can apply it, and head out in the sun right away and it’s already working. For a mom of three young active kids that is very important! If you are searching for a sunscreen that is natural and goes on just like all the other brands, this is a great choice. I have been telling my friends about it, and I hope they make the purchase.

For a natural sunscreen the price is quite reasonable, ranging from $13.99 to $19.99 a bottle depending on the size. They also come in handy travel sizes for $1.99 a pack. As well, Goddess Garden has a line of sun repair products. In my opinion these are very reasonable prices for what you get, especially when you consider that you could spend the same amount on your usual chemical-filled brands.

Goddess Garden Natural Suncare products are now available in natural grocery stores nationally including 6 regions of Whole Foods, Pharmaca, Sprouts, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Sunflower Markets, New Seasons, PCC Natural Markets among others.

You can also buy straight from their online store. And for Canadians, they are slowly gaining distribution in the Canadian market so watch for it in local retailers or your favorite online stores.

Now for the fun part, one lucky 3 Boys and A Dog reader is going to win bottles of Adult, Kids and Baby sunscreen! Here’s how to enter:

REQUIRED COMMENT: Visit the website, look around, then come back and tell me something you liked, want, or learned.

BONUS #1: Follow @goddessgarden and @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the blue ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Goddess Garden and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Put my button on your blog.

#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.

#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on June 19, 2011

OPEN TO: US and Canada

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent items by Goddess Garden to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

Filed Under: Beauty / Spa, Eco_Friendly, Giveaways, health, Just for Kids, Parenting, Reviews

Vital Earth Traditions Lady Godiva Review and Giveaway

April 15, 2011 By Ashley

As a busy mom, I have learned that long soaks in the tub are hard to come by, if I can even manage them at all. It’s a bummer that I don’t get to pamper myself as often as I’d like (oh, you know, every day massages would be nice!), so I have learned to really enjoy the everyday luxuries of fabulous lotions, soaps, and other deliciously scented things!

When I heard about the brand new Lady Godiva line from Vital Earth Traditions, I was immediately smitten. As the name suggests, this line of hand soaps, and lotions is chocolate scented. I have to tell you, this body lotion is easily my favorite as of late! Who wouldn’t want to have chocolate scented hands and arms?! It’s not overpowering, and it really does moisturize beautifully. You may even remember our previous review of Vital Earth Traditions. We love them even more now, if that’s even possible! What’s even better is that the entire Lady Godiva line is free from yucky junk like chemicals and other unnatural things. From the Vital Earth Traditions website:

“We offer natural herbal bath and body products that are chemical free and paraben free. There are a wide variety of lotions, body butters, soaps, herbal remedies, massage lotions, creams, cleaners and Allergy Safe Products to choose from and more!”

This is so reassuring! I love all-natural lotions and body products, but find that sometimes they fall down on the job and don’t actually fulfill the task at hand (if you’ll pardon the pun!). The Lady Godiva line really does deliver! In fact, they even include a bar of “recycled soap” in each purchase. They take the left over cuttings and shavings from their other luxurious soaps and use it to make more soap! No waste here!

Want a package consisting of hand lotion, liquid hand soap, a bar of recycled soap, and a bar of hand soap on the decadent Lady Godiva scent? You’re in luck, because one lucky reader will win a Lady Godiva package from Vital Earth Traditions, a $35 value!

REQUIRED COMMENT: Head on over to Vital Earth Traditions and let me know what product you’d love to try!

BONUS #1: Follow @kellylynchring and @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Vital Earth Traditions and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Put my button on your blog.

#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.

#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on 4/29/11. OPEN TO: US

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent items by Vital Earth Traditions to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

Filed Under: Beauty / Spa, Giveaways, Reviews Tagged With: anglo saxon women, bath and body, bath and body products, body butters, culture, godiva, godiva chocolatier, godiva review, hand lotion, hand soaps, health, herbal bath, herbal remedies, human interest, lady godiva, liquid hand soap, lucky reader, luxuries, luxurious soaps, massage lotions, medicine, natural lotions, new lady, popular culture, public nudity, safe products, shavings, skin care, soaks, soap, soaps and lotions, sociology, vital earth

GIVEAWAY: Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush

April 14, 2011 By Erika

I decided to grow this wonder head of hair long enough to donate it to Locks of Love, but alas the heat is coming…and the hair is already up in a pony tail. I need three more inches to be able to donate it…so I have to find a way to “survive with a smile” while I’m at it! This is why I volunteered to test out and review three products all in one! I was a little apprehensive at first as I am very low key {not just because I have five kids, lol} and really don’t care much for these kinds of item but I thought I’d give them a try. At first I thought of my beautiful little princess {whom is counting the days until she turns five in June} when selecting these but in the end I just loved them for me!

The main item I reviewed was the Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush but also received the Conair You Style 2in1 brush and the Scunci Bendini {got two sets to be exact}.

Infiniti Pro by Conair Spin Air Brush

This is the neatest “beauty gadget” I’ve ever seen! You have the option of the brush spining while you dry, or not. With an easy push of a button, the brush begins to spin making it easier to straighten your hair, or style it as you wish. Since I have SO MUCH hair on my head, it takes so long to dry it, making my arms tired and heavy only half way through. With this near little gadget, I had two items in one and I was able to cut the drying time in half! YEP, you heard right! In addition, my hair was nice and smooth and frizz free! It is shaped like your typical round brush but in addition it blows air through the rotating brush. In the end my hair was dry and shiny!

“The tangle-free anti-static bristles allow you to customize your volume with or without the spin function. The powerful ceramic heat distributes heat evenly for less damage, and an ionic generator releases 100x more ions than typical tourmaline ceramic motors. With 100x more ions, your hair will have maximum conditioning and shine! Choose from 3 heat settings and 2 speeds, and the multi-directional rotation (right/left) makes it easy for both right and left-handed users.”

I can’t wait for my mom to visit for Mother’s Day so I can show her this near beauty gadget, I know she is going to be surprised that I have one and that I actually use it – because it is that great and easy to use!

Conair You Style 2in1 Brush
This is another beauty gadget that I got to test out! As soon as I saw it, I thought “nope that’s not going to work on my super straight hair,’ boy was I wrong! This brush is really neat because with an easy push of a button, it converts from a rounded brush to a flat brush! Making brushing any kind of hair super easy. My hair took to this brush so well, I don’t want to use any other brush in the house! I’m not kidding here, I really LOVE this brush! What’s more to my surprise, I actually like using it rounded. I also like the fact that it has two types of bristles on it. “With an easy push of a button, it converts from a flat to a rounded brush that’s great to achieve a variety of hairstyles on almost any hair length or texture.” I think that these two types aide in using it with any kind of hair. My little one’s hair is very much like my sister, Gigi, straight, think and baby-like, so I can’t use just any kind of brush. Mine is the total opposite so we tend not to use the same brush, until now. This great brush works on both of us!

I also used this brush with my regular hair dryer and it was great in helping cut the time of my usual styling and drying. “The combination of bristles helps to distribute hair’s own natural oils for added shine. The vents allow airflow to reach hair for faster drying and styling. The ball tip bristles gently glide through hair for stress-free brushing.” It is really a great brush!

scünci bendini
These adorable little clips worked well on my hair but much better on my daughter’s hair type. I was able to get them to stay on my hair once I realized that I was trying to pin up too much hair {remember I have a ton of hair}. On my daughter, they were perfect and her hair looks like it was done professionally {these beautiful little clips plus drying her hair with the Infiniti described above was the perfect combination}. It really is an easy way to dress up your hair…it’s like jewelry for your hair! I wore the white ones with little “pearls” and my daughter used the colorful ones with jeweled crystals on it. “To use the scünci bendini clip, start with gathering your hair in the desired style. Slide the bendini comb into the hair, and bend and snap it securely in place for an all-day hold.” To see how it works: Scuni Bendini Hair Clip

To Purchase:

The Infiniti Pro by Conair Spin Air Brush is available nationwide at mass market and drug store retailers, as well as at www.conair-store.com for an average retail price of $59.99.
The Conair You Style 2in1 brush is available nationwide at mass market and drug store retailers, as well as at www.conair-store.com for an average retail price of $9.99.
The bendini clip are now hitting shelves at drug, mass and grocery stores nationwide starting in at a suggested retail price of about $4.99 per pack.

Giveaway!
Here is the great part of this review: the giveaway! One lucky 3 Boys and a Dog reader will win an Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush {a $59.99 value}! Here’s how to enter:

REQUIRED COMMENT:

BONUS #1: Follow @scunciHair and @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Conair and Scunci and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Additional Entries:
#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Put my button on your blog.

#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.

#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on April 29th

OPEN TO: US Only

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent items by Conair to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*